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Did you ever wonder who inspects your children's school buses?

A talented and skilled team of RMV employees is now thoroughly inspecting your children's school buses to make sure they are ready for normal pick up and drop off duties, prepared for emergencies, and complying with the law.

When you think of school bus inspections, you probably think about how your car is inspected. While there are similar safety components that are checked like windshield wipers, turn signals, headlights, etc., a school bus inspection has three parts. For each bus, the inside, outside, and underneath the bus are inspected three times per year.

Using a 48-point checklist, RMV inspectors are making sure that all buses meet state requirements and are ready to safely transport your children. Some highlights of an inspection include, confirming that the bus's flashing lights and stop arm are working correctly and that each bus has first aid kits, bodily fluid clean up kits and a fire extinguisher. They are also checking emergency exits (doors and windows) to ensure a bus can be evacuated quickly and verifying that wheelchair lifts on specially equipped buses are operating correctly. In addition, each bus is checked for the following required signs on the back of bus:

• This bus stops at all RR crossings.
• Keep back 100 feet.
• It is unlawful to pass when red lights are flashing.

If you see a school bus with an orange sticker in the window, it means that the bus has been put out of service due to a serious safety issue and should not be carrying passengers. Before these buses can return to service, the bus company must contact the RMV to schedule a re-inspection.

You should feel good to know, after weeks of intensive training and testing, led by school bus industry seasoned inspectors, RMV inspectors are well prepared for this new challenge they began on January 2, 2007.

Protecting your children's transportation safety is a priority at the RMV.

School Bus Inspectors on the Job